Showing posts with label Commercials. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Commercials. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 1, 2025

Murder Before Midnight (WBKB; 1950-1953)

 

MURDER BEFORE MIDNIGHT 

WBKB-4, Jan. 23, 1950-Aug. 24, 1953; Chicago, Illinois

Host: Drana Badour the Swami (Allen Harvey & Art Hern)


During the dawn of the 1950s, local Chicago television station WBKB-4) was, in all actuality, ahead of its time when it produced and aired a little programmer called Murder Before Midnight. Every week a different movie thriller would be showcased and hosted by an unusual Swami character, who went by the name of Drana Badour. The strange mystic spoke in an eerie voice and wore the appropriate attire and turban. The show's macabre theme music would play as the time grew nearer for the film to begin. Captivated television viewers would then be lured into Drana Badour's crystal ball where the week's mystery or horror thriller would start.


Very little is known about this obscure television gem, but filmmaker and author Donald F. Glut (Dinosaur Valley Girls; The Erotic Rites of Countess Dracula) has stated that the show debuted on January 23, 1950, and he has generously shared knowledge about Murder Before Midnight at the Monster Kid Classic Horror Forum. Likewise, authors Ted Okuda and Mark Yurkiw have also provided a brief background of the program in their insightful book Chicago TV Horror Movie Shows from Shock Theatre to Svengoolie (2007; Lake Claremont Press; 1893121135). However, Okuda and Yurkiw have erroneously commented that the show ended its run in 1952. Ol' Sicko-Psychotic himself has picked up his shovel and did a little digging of his own, only to discover that Murder Before Midnight continued its run until August 24, 1953, according to the TV listing section in the Illinois newspaper - the Freeport Journal.


Murder Before Midnight was unique in that it not only had a creepy host as the master of ceremonies, the first of his kind in television history, but the show also featured a movie thriller in nightly installments, Monday through Saturday from 11:30 pm - 12:00 midnight. The half hour program would then usually be followed by the Nite Owl Movie, which showcased a random mix of full-length movies from various genres. Beginning on June 17, 1951, however, the WBKB studio began to do something special with Murder. On Monday nights, the local TV station started showing the entire length of the week's feature from 11:30 pm until 1:30 am. On these nights, Murder would be followed by the Ulmer Turner News prior to the station going off the air until later that morning. 


Considering how quickly and frequently shows were cancelled during the golden age of television, it's apparent that Murder Before Midnight had a successful run locally. No doubt that introducing a viewer-participation gimmick added to the show acquiring a loyal following. "After the movie segment was over," Glut has stated, "the Swami would do an over-the-air quiz, phoning people at home and asking questions relating to the movie. Winners got a jackpot prize offered by sponsor Allied Motors." 


Although the Swami Drana Badour hosted such horror titles as The Ape Man (1943), Revenge of the Zombies (1943), The Face of Marble (1946), etc., the majority of the program consisted of mystery and suspense chillers. Similar films found themselves as part of the film repertoire of later TV horror hosts that soon followed in the Swami's footsteps (i.e., Vampira's Lady of Horrors, 1954-1955, KABC and Vampira, 1956, KHJ; Dr. Diablo's Terror! Theatre, 1957, KCOP; Ottola Nesmith's Nightmare!, 1957-1958, KTLA). A couple of the Swami's known mystery and suspense flicks -- Red Dragon (1945) and The Panther's Claw (1942) -- were presented by other horror hosts, such as Vampira and Dr. Diablo, in their own programs. It's very likely that even more of the Swami's films would have appeared in the shows previously mentioned if they would have lasted as long as Murder Before Midnight did. The reason for so many suspense thrillers in these early programs was due to the fact that horror pictures were difficult to acquire and at affordable prices, as Maila Nurmi (a.k.a. Vampira) had once pointed out. These were local shows, after all, and they had a modest budget. Sadly, this is still the case in current times, which is why most horror hosts continue to show the same features, usually in public domain, as their colleagues.


Originally, the man behind the turban was WBKB's very own television announcer Allen Harvey (see top pic). Eventually, actor Art Hern took over the role of the mystic Drana Badour. Hern was a former radio actor, best remembered as one of the cast in the 1939-1949 radio program Captain Midnight. After the cancellation of Murder Before Midnight in 1953, Hern was cast as a regular in the television series The Happy Pirates, a children's program which starred Dick Two Ton Baker (see pic on the left). At the time, WBKB changed ownership and was bought by ABC (Channel 7). Over the decades, Art Hern continued to work in various films, such as Simon, King of the Witches (1971) and Transylvania Twist (1989), up until his death at the age of 90.



FILMS SHOWN (Incomplete):

The Accused (1949)

*The Ace of Spades (1935)

*The Ape Man (1943)

*Below the Deadline (1936)

*Blake of Scotland Yard (1937)

*The Case of Charles Peace (1949)

*Charlie Chan in the Secret Service (1944)

*The Corpse Vanishes (1942)

*Dark Alibi (1946)

*Detective Kitty O'Day (1944)

The Face of Marble (1946)

*Hammer the Toff (1952)

*The Important Witness (1933)

*The Intruder (1933)

* Lord Edgware Dies (1934)

*Meet Sexton Blake (1945)

The Night Comes Too Soon (1947)

*The Night Has Eyes (1942)

*The Panther's Claw (1942)

*Paul Temple's Triumph (1950)

*The Phantom Shot (1947)

Red Dragon (1945)

Return of the Ape Man (1944)

*Revenge of the Zombies (1943)

*Salute the Toff (1952)

Shadows Over Chinatown (1946)

*A Shot in the Dark (1935)

*Someone at the Door (1936)

Tangled Evidence (1934)

There Goes Kelly (1945)

*The Thirteenth Guest (1932)

*Three Witnesses (1935)

*White Zombie (1932)

*Woman in the Shadows (1934)

Wednesday, April 20, 2022

Halloween Music Marathon: Side A - Preview !!!


Sicko-Psychotic the King of Ghouls (Jim Childs) and the rest of the cast hosted a special Halloween music video marathon featuring various musicians and musical numbers. Aunt Clarice and Mama Lilith also return to join in on the fun. Special guests include other spooky TV horror hosts.

This segment features the BOO-bble Gum joke from the Music Marathon Special; also, Cameo the Magic Camera Obscura introduces the Dali's Llama band and Phoenix Comics + Toys' mini-figurine commercial.

Friday, November 5, 2021

Fear What You Wear Commercial !!!

 


Commercial for Sin City local artist Bradley Beard's line of groovy T-Shirts FEAR WHAT YOU WEAR. Featuring Las Vegas TV horror host Sicko-Psychotic (Jim Childs). 


Also, check out Fear What You Wear on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/fearwhatyouwear


Thursday, May 2, 2013

King Kong Volkswagen 411 Commercial (1972)

1972 Cascade Pictures

KING KONG VOLKSWAGEN 411 4-DOOR SEDAN COMMERCIAL 

 Cascade Pictures; 1972
Producers: Volkswagen of America
Director: Phil Kellison
Original concept by David Allen
Cast: Victoria Riskin (Ann Darrow); Rick Baker (King Kong)

With his ladylove in one paw, the world's favorite giant ape -- King Kong -- stands high atop the Empire State Building swatting off troublesome airplanes. Having captured one, Kong takes his new toy and the frightened beauty down to the streets below where he encounters the enormous Volkswagen 411 4-Door Sedan. The automobile proves quite roomy when he places the young woman on the passenger seat and his toy plane inside the trunk (located at the front of the car). After beating his chest in satisfaction, the great ape drives off with the Sedan, waving "farewell" to the good people of New York.

David Allen

BITS & PIECES:
Although this popular commercial only aired on television for a brief period during the early 1970s, it has become a favorite relic of yesteryear among monster fans and stop-motion enthusiasts. David Allen (The Howling; Willow), who would soon go on to become one of Hollywood's most respected visual effects experts, created the animated model of King Kong at the start of his career while working for Cascade Pictures. At Cascade, Allen also animated many of television's favorite commercial characters, including Mrs. Butterworth, Little Hans the Nestle Chocolate Man, Mr. Peanut, the Pillsbury Doughboy, and Swiss Miss. As a fan of the B&W classic King Kong film of 1933, however, Allen was inspired to film a re-creation of the movie's climactic sequence in color. Originally titled "Fay's Friend," the commercial test footage was filmed around March of 1971 on 35mm and, oddly enough, did not include Fay Wray's character in the scene. It wasn't long after that the Volkswagen of America company snatched up Allen's idea for marketing their Volkswagen 411 4-Door Sedan model. Cascade's effects department head, Phil Kellison (The Giant Behemoth; The Time Machine), took charge of directing the commercial, while Allen focused on the animation aspect of the project. Favorite special make-up effects artist Rick Baker (Octaman; The Exorcist) was brought in to provide Kong's arm and paw for the live-action shots where the giant ape places his struggling sweetheart on the passenger seat. The damsel in distress was actually played by Fay Wray's daughter, Victoria Riskin!


IMAGES & STILLS:
The following photographs feature behind-the-scenes images as well as pictures of David Allen, Dennis Muren, Bob Burns, Phil Kellison, Victoria Riskin, and Marcel Delgado. 


1972 Cascade PicturesDavid Allen

David AllenDavid Allen

David AllenDavid Allen & Victoria Riskin

1972 Cascade Pictures1972 Cascade Pictures
  
David AllenDavid Allen
  
1972 Cascade Pictures1972 Cascade Pictures

1972 Cascade Pictures
  

Below is a 2004 Volkswagen Polo ad by DDB London . 


King Kong

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Killer Plants: Film & TV List

Body of the Prey (1970 a.k.a. Venus Flytrap)

As evident in the numerous films and television programs that they have appeared in, homicidal and carnivorous vegetation has always been a strange fascination for many fantasy, horror, and sci-fi fans. Interest in these wondrous and deadly creatures continues to stay strong and blogs dedicated to them are sprouting like weeds all over the Internet. As part of SP's cryptozoological film & TV listing series, yours gruelly has not only included giant carnivorous plants, but also killer fruits, dangerous fungi, and humanoid plant creatures, which should satisfy the web-exploring masses looking for a good SPew... or simply, unique ideas for backyard landscaping? So, without further adieu, grab your popcorn and green candy vines and check out these botanical nightmares.... 


ABC Weekend Specials: "The Bunjee Venture" (1984) -- animated TV episode
The Addams Family (1964-1966) -- TV series, Motricia's carnivorous pet Cleopatra
The Addams Family (1973-1975) -- animated TV series
The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius (2002-2006) -- animated TV series
Aladdin: "Garden of Evil" (1994) -- animated TV episode
At the Earth's Core (1976)
Attack of the Killer Tomatoes! (1978)
Attack of the Killer Tomatoes (1990-1992) -- animated TV series
Attack of the Mushroom People (1963; a.k.a. Matango)
The Avengers: "Man-Eater of Surrey Green" (1965) -- TV episode
Batman & Robin (1997)
Batman: The Animated Series: "Pretty Poison" (1992) -- animated TV episode
Batman: The Brave and the Bold: "Sidekicks Assemble!" (2010) -- animated TV episode
Batman: The Brave and the Bold: "The Mask of Matches Malone!" (2010) -- animated TV episode
Blood (1974) -- starring Hope Stansbury
Body of the Prey (1970; a.k.a. Venus Flytrap)
Body Snatchers (1993)
Creepshow (1982)
Creepshow 2 (1987)
Darkwing Duck (1991) -- animated TV series, recurring villain Bushroot
The Day of the Triffids (1962)
The Day of the Triffids (1981)
The Day of the Triffids (2009)
Die, Monster, Die! (1965)
Dinner for Adela (1978; a.k.a. Adéla Jeste Nevecerela)
Doctor Who: "The Seeds of Doom, Parts 1-6" (1976) -- TV episodes
Doctor Who: "The Trial of a Time Lord, Part 9" (1986; a.k.a. "Terror of the Vervoids") -- TV episode
The Double Garden (1970; a.k.a. The Venus Flytrap)
Dr. Terror's House of Horrors (1965)
Emperor's New Grove (2000)
Flash Gordon (1979-1982) -- animated TV series
Friday the 13th the Series: "A Cup of Time" (1987) -- TV episode
Garfield and Friends: "One Good Fern Deserves Another" (1989) -- animated TV episode
Godzilla vs. Biollante (1989)
George of the Jungle (1967-1970) -- animated TV series, closing credits
The Green Slime (1968)
Hank Danger and the Space Mummy's Tomb! (2009) -- animation
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
The Headless Terror (1967; a.k.a. Penanggalan)
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe: "title unknown" (2002-2004) -- animated TV episode
The Hilarious House of Frightenstein (1971) -- TV series
Holocausto Porno (1981) -- porno
H.R. Pufnstuf (1969-1970) -- TV series with poison mushrooms that turn any living creature they touch into fungus
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009)
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)
It Conquered the World (1956)
Jimmy Two-Shoes (2009-) -- animated TV series
Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008)
Jumanji (1995)
Kaiba: "title unknown" (2008) -- animated TV episode
Killer Tomatoes Eat France (1991)
Killer Tomatoes Strike Back (1990)
Kim Possible: "title unknown" (2002-2007) -- animated TV episode
Konga (1961)
The Land Unknown (1957)
Lexx (1997-2002) -- TV series
Little Shop of Horrors (1960)
Little Shop of Horrors (1986)
Loonatics Unleashed: "Apocalypso" (2007) -- animated TV episode
The Lost Continent (1968)
Lost Girl: "(Dis)Members Only" (2010) -- TV episode
Lost in Space: "Attack of the Monster Plants" (1965) -- TV episode
The Lost World (1960)
The Lost World: "The Guardians" (2001) -- TV episode
Luana (1968)
Man Eater of Hydra (1967; a.k.a. Island of the Doomed/La Isla de la Muerte) -- also features a bloodsucking tree!
Milton the Monster: "The Goofy Doctor Goo Fee/From Riches to Rags/The Pot Thickens" (1965) -- animated TV episode
Milton the Monster: "Throne for a Loss/Missin' Masters/Monster Mutiny" (1965) -- animated TV episode
Milton the Monster: "Boo to You/Under Waterloo/Kid Stuff" (1965-1967) -- animated TV series episode
Minority Report (2000)
Mortuary (2005)
Mothra (1961)
The Mutations (1973; a.k.a. The Freakmaker)
Mutiny in Outer Space (1965)
Naruto (2002-2007) -- animated TV series
Naruto: Shippûden (2007-) -- animated TV series
The New Addams Family (1998-1999) -- TV series
The New Scooby-Doo Movies: "Wednesday Is Missing" (1972) -- animated TV episode
Ninja Nonsense: "title unknown" (2004; a.k.a. Ninin ga shinobuden) -- animated TV episode
The Outer Limits: "Flower Child" (2001) -- TV episode
Please Don't Eat My Mother! (1973)
Poltergeist Report: Yuu Yuu Hakusho (1992-1995) -- animated TV series
The Quartermass Xperiment (1955; a.k.a. The Creeping Unknown)
The Red Skelton Show "Episode #20.7" (1970) -- TV episode
Return of the Killer Tomatoes! (1988)
The Revenge of Doctor X (1970)
Rocky and His Friends: "The Pottsylvania Permanent or I've Grown Accustomed to the Place" (1960) -- TV episode
Rosario to Vampire (2008-2009) -- animated TV series
Rosario to Vampire Capu2 (2008) -- animated TV series
The Ruins (2008)
Sabrina and the Groovie Goolies (1970-1971; a.k.a. The Groovie Goolies and Friends) -- animated TV series
Scary Movie 2 (2001)
Seedpeople (1992)
Seeds of Evil (1974)
The Seven Vampires (1987; a.k.a. As Sete Vampiras)
The Simpsons: "Simpson Safari" (2001) -- animated TV episode
The Simpsons: "Moe Baby Blues" (2003) -- animated TV episode
Star Trek - Voyager "Bliss" (1999) -- TV episode
Swamp Devil (2008)
Tarzan's Desert Mystery (1943)
The Tender Trap (1974) -- documentary about carnivorous plants; with Vincent Price
The Thing from Another World (1951)
Toyota ECHO commercial (20??) --- might have premiered in 2003, a woman feeds a grocery boy to a giant Venus flytrap in the back of her vehicle
Transformers: Cybertron (2005) -- animated TV series
Transformers: The Headmasters: "title unknown" (1987-1988) -- animated TV episode
Tremors: "Flora or Fauna?" (2003) -- TV episode
Ultraman: "Miroganda no Himitsu" (1966) -- TV episode
The Unknown Terror (1957)
Untamed Women (1952)
Visionaries: Knights of the Magical Light (1987) -- animated TV series
Voodoo Island (1957)
Voyage to the Prehistoric Planet (1965)
Werewolf of London (1935)
When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth (1970)
The Woman Eater (1958)
The X-Files: "El Mundo Gira" (1997) -- TV episode
Yog, Monster from Space (1971)
Yû yû Hakusho (1993-2006) -- animated TV series

see also film & TV lists of... EVIL TREES!


Killer Plants Film Movies TV Television List
The Addams Family (1964-1966)

Killer Plants Film Movies TV Television List
Attack of the Killer Tomatoes! (1978)

Killer Plants Film Movies TV Television List
The Day of the Triffids (1962)

Killer Plants Film Movies TV Television List
H.R. Pufnstuf (1969-1070)

Killer Plants Film Movies TV Television List
Little Shop of Horrors (1986)

Killer Plants Film Movies TV Television List
Batman: The Animated Series: "Pretty Poison" (1992)

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Lady of Horrors / Vampira (1954-1955)

TV Television

 LADY OF HORRORS / THE VAMPIRA SHOW

KABC-TV, 1954-1955
Producer: Hunt Stromberg, Jr.
Director: Hap Weyman
Script: Peter Robinson
Cast: Maila Nurmi (Vampira)

TV TelevisionDangerous and alluring, the sexy femme fatale of the television network netherworld, Vampira, was TV's first female late night horror hostess, having only been preceded by her male counterpart from Chicago -- The Swami Drana Badour -- on Murder Before Midnight (1950-1953). The show premiered as Lady of Horrors, in which the likes of Vampira and the show's creepy format had never been done before on the West Coast and television home viewers quickly embraced the sultry seductress's package of late night thrillers. The landmark program was an instant success and was soon retitled simply as Vampira, continuing the ghoulish skits and antics of the wasp-waisted fright hostess as she introduced B horror and suspense thrillers every Saturday night on KABC-TV in Los Angeles, California.

Materializing from a long, dark corridor blanketed in thick billowing fog, the silent and gothic figure of Vampira would stroll right up to the camera and let out a bloodcurdling scream. Fully invigorated, the voluptuous ghoul in basic black would then quickly compose herself and, with a seductive and mischievous smile, inform us: "screaming relaxes me so." This was the intro that, from 1954-1955, television audiences thrilled to tune into every Saturday night.

After a necessary word or two from the sponsor, Fletcher Jones, which Vampira would occasionally ridicule, the glamour ghoul would ascend to her attic where she'd engage in a one-sided conversation with viewers on various macabre topics, especially her compulsion for murder, and introduce the movie of the night. Originally, the program was intended to be called Nightmare Attic, before it was changed to Lady of Horrors for its debut. The setting of the attic was minimal and comfortable for Vampira: a Victorian couch adorned with skulls, a candlestick resting on a coffin-shaped table that read 'REST IN PEACE,' and a giant spiderweb in the backdrop. One may assume that the web was made by her pet black widow spider named Rollo. Often, during interruptions of the movie being shown, Vampira could be seen searching by candlelight for her elusive spider.

TV Television
Vampira was not only television's first female horror host, she also deserves recognition for being one of the best. Her combination of dangerous persona and wickedly sarcastic wit has never been surpassed by any who have followed in her footsteps. Most horror hosts thereafter have taken a more blatant comedic spin on hosting their fright flicks, but Vampira truly was terrifying.

TV TelevisionVampira's sudden popularity and fast rise to fame are quite remarkable considering the times and what was currently airing on television when she first let out a piercing scream into people's living rooms. In 1954, when Lady of Horrors first aired locally in the greater Los Angeles area and its neighboring counties, middle-class home viewers had never seen anything like the horror dominatrix. It was an era when women were expected to concern themselves with raising families, maintaining house, and keeping up appearances. Vampira, however, rose from the the dark depths of swirling fog and led the fairer gender into a new generation of independence and self-expression, while their male counterparts drooled over the forbidden siren they could never possess.



TV Television
The show was an instant success, albeit locally. But actress Maila Nurmi, who created and portrayed Vampira, quickly saw to it that the rest of America knew who she was. After the first episode aired, she personally called LIFE Magazine and demanded a publicity photo shoot. While the rest of the United States did not have the privilege of watching the local show for themselves, they were now reading about her, and interest in the porcelain-skinned dame in black peaked rather quickly. In later years, her influence would continue to be felt as local television horror hosts began to sprout all over the U.S. like wild mushrooms. In 1958, singer-songwriter Bobby Bare recorded a single called "Vampira" that proclaimed her as his baby. Soon enough, the name Vampira found its way into many other horror novelty songs, often associating her as Dracula's wife.


TV Television
Maila Nurmi worked hard at promoting her show. She rarely got much sleep as she interviewed live for evening shows like Al Janis' Hi-Jinx, and the nationally syndicated network show The Saturday Night Revue, then having to rush over to the KABC-TV studio set to do her own live show. As Vampira, she attended special events and appeared as a special guest in movie houses that were screening horror pictures. She cut ribbons at supermarket openings, drove around town in a hearse enticing people to watch her show Saturday evenings, and even signed autographs in graveyards. "I was everywhere. Like horseshit at the turn of the century," commented the vivacious Nurmi in the documentary Vampira: The Movie (2006). "You couldn't turn around.. there was Vampira."

After only six episodes, the show's name was changed from that of Lady of Horrors to The Vampira Show in order to capitalize on the popularity the character was achieving. All the effort Nurmi put into marketing the show was to secure a new contract for the second season and help fund a Vampira merchandise line. Sadly, neither would ever take fruit.


TV TelevisionAfter a full season worth of episodes, 49 in all, that ran from 1954-1955 every Saturday night without faulting, the show found itself cancelled despite its popularity. Reportedly, the issue was that the station wanted to own the rights to the Vampira name, but Maila Nurmi refused to give it up and the Vampira show was no more. In all actuality, it was Nurmi's first husband, screenwriter Dean Riesner (Play Misty for Me; Dirty Harry), who came up with the name. Nurmi, herself, designed the character's look and defined Vampira's persona.

On the night of April 2, 1955, Vampira was due to host her 50th episode of the season and introduce The Woman Who Came Back (1945) as the feature. However, due to the program's last-minute cancellation, the film was, instead, shown on KABC-TV's Nitecap Theater without a host. But Vampira wasn't through yet. The queen of late-night thrillers packed up her cobwebs and arsenic and moved into the KHJ-TV studio where she spooked television audiences all over again with her new show, also entitled Vampira.


It's unfortunate for horror fans, but because both Vampira shows were aired live, no episodes from either program are believed to exist. However, a short kinescope was made to help promote the Vampira show to potential advertisers. The footage is a re-shot skit from episode #17 (and possibly #5 as well), introducing the whodunit murder-mystery The 13th Guest. The historical segment was finally shown to the public in a documentary entitled About Sex, Death and Taxes (1995), which covered the lifespan of Maila Nurmi up to that point. In 2006, excerpts from the kinescope were included in Vampira: The Movie. The following year, the Vampira's Attic website began selling a beautifully restored version of the kinescope skit on a Vampira disc that also features the full-length movie The 13th Guest. Adding to the fun, the film is periodically interrupted with vintage Ed Wood, Jr. commercials that are both hilarious and bizarre. It's a horror collector's dream.

Several scripts of the Vampira show are known to exist and be in the possession of private collectors. Nurmi has commented about how dreadful the scripts were for the first two episodes. Instead of hiring an actual scriptwriter, the producers at KABC-TV, unfortunately, gave the task to a resident pianist for the studio who had never written a script before. This problem would only prove temporary as struggling writer Peter Robinson, who had recently moved to Hollywood with his wife and children to pursue his career, saw the show and wrote an entire script for the Vampira character and submitted it. Robinson also included a cover letter that emphasized the show's need for a structured format. Upon reading Robinson's work, Nurmi was both delighted and thrilled. Robinson was immediately hired and demonstrated his skills beginning with episode #3 and lasting throughout the show's duration.

One particular contribution of Robinson's was a rhyme that may have been part of the #17 cocktail episode: "Here's to zombies, the living dead. May you find one beneath your bed. They live on blood and you should too. Hemoglobin is a drink for you. Trickle, trickle, trickle, trickle..." Other known skits involved Vampira conversing with ghosts, playing with Rollo the Spider, and a special guest star appearance by James Dean who played a 'naughty boy' that falls victim to the disciplinarian tactics of Vampira (dressed as a librarian). Whew! What a sight that must have been!


LADY OF HORRORS:

TV Television TV Television

1. Dig Me Later, Vampira Vampira makes her debut as television's first horror host. Because the show's concept had never been done before, Vampira's first episode was meant to inform home viewers what to expect by providing a preview of horror, mystery, and suspense movies she would be hosting... and enticing everyone to tune in to the show every Saturday night. The show launched the horror hosting craze for many future generations, but very few were as wickedly sexy and frightening as Vampira -- the original Queen of the Horror Hosts. 4/30/1954

2. White Zombie (1932) After settling down in her attic, Vampira welcomes her viewers, "I hope you have been lucky enough to have had a horrible week;" and, for those who have ever attempted suicide, she devises a sinister hospital plan called The Yellow Cross. Also in this episode, Vampira informs us that the color of her long fingernails is 'hemorrhage red'.  5/1/1954

TV Television John Carradine

3. The Face of Marble (1946) "The Lady of Horrors will again welcome you to her eerie attic on KABC (7) at midnight to show you a movie called Face of Marble starring cadaverous John Carradine. The ghoulish glamour girl will get you watching if you don't watch out." 5/8/1954

4. Revenge of the Zombies (1943) Scott Warrington (Mauritz Hugo) and a hired detective (Robert Lowery) investigate the mysterious death of Scott's sister Lila (Veda Ann Borg) and discover that she and many others have been turned into zombies by a mad scientist (John Carradine) working for the Third Reich. The zombies, however, seek revenge against their creator. 5/15/1954

TV Television Ralph Morgan

5. Fog Island (1945) Vampira offers us a foaming vampire cocktail "that will absolutely kill you." Later, Vampira goes on a quest to find her missing pet spider, Rollo. 5/22/1954

6. Condemned to Live (1948) A pregnant woman is bitten by a vampire bat in Africa. Years later, her son, Paul Kristan (Ralph Morgan), grows up to be a professor who starts having blackouts and commits a series of murders, terrorizing the locals in his village. 5/29/1954


VAMPIRA:

TV Television Eddie Kane

7. Gog (1954) The mechanical monster Gog visits Vampira in her attic playroom at 11:00 P.M. on KABC (7); The show's name, Lady of Horrors, is changed to the hostess's name, Vampira, due to all the positive attention and publicity she had been receiving in such a short period of time. Although only aired locally, the show is featured in magazine and newspaper articles -- LIFE Magazine, Los Angeles Times, Newsweek, TV Guide, etc. -- reaching thousands of people all across the U.S. 6/5/1954

8. Devil Bat's Daughter (1946) Under the care and treatment of a shady psychiatrist named Dr. Elliott (Eddie Kane), Nina MacCarron (Rosemary La Planche) believes that her late father was a vampire and that he has taken possession of her... especially when she wakes up with blood on her hands and discovers a dead corpse. 6/12/1954

George Zucco Erich von Stroheim

9. The Flying Serpent (1946) When archaeologist Andrew Forbes (George Zucco) discovers the legendary Quetzalcoatl, he accidentally brings about the death of his wife. Realizing he can use the vicious serpent creature of Aztec mythology to kill anyone of his choosing, Forbes seeks gruesome revenge on his enemies. 6/191954

10. The Mask of Diijon (1946) After being humiliated on stage, mad magician Diijon (Erich von Stroheim) employs hypnotism to exact his revenge and make others kill for him. Among his intended victims are his much younger wife (Jeanne Bates) and her former lover (William Wright). 6/26/1954

Edmund Lowe Edward Norris

11. The Strange Mr. Gregory (1946) Master illusionist, Mr. Gregory (Edmund Lowe), falls for another magician's wife (Jean Rogers). Mr. Gregory fakes his own death and has the young man framed for his murder and places the married woman under his spell. 7/3/1954

12. The Man with Two Lives (1942) When a vicious criminal is sentenced to death in the electric chair, his evil soul takes over the body of recently dead Phillip Bennett (Edward Norris). Assuming leadership of his old criminal organization, the vengeful crime lord unleashes an all out gang-war upon the city. Marlo Dwyer and Frederick Burton also star. 7/10/1954

Edana Romney Peter Cookson

13. Corridor of Mirrors (1948) Beautiful Myfanwy Conway (Edana Romney) meets a stranger in London named Paul Mangin (Eric Portman) who seems to have a strange obsession with a portrait of a woman who looks very much like her. When Myfanwy's personality begins to change and resemble that of the woman in the portrait, it just may be that she and Paul are reincarnated lovers from a previous life. The problem is... Paul appears to have homicidal tendencies. 7/17/1954

14. Fear (1946) Out of anger and desperation, medical student Larry Crain (Peter Cookson) commits murder, but soon draws suspicion onto himself the more reckless he becomes. Featuring Warren William and Anne Gwynne. 7/24/1954

Wallace Ford Veda Ann Borg

15. Rogue's Tavern (1936) Planning to elope, Jimmy Kelly (Wallace Ford) and Marjorie Burns (Barbara Pepper) check into a hotel room, but quickly discover that they are in the company of jewel smugglers and a mad killer that's on the loose. Also starring Joan Woodbury and Jack Mulhall. 7/31/1954

16. Dangerous Intruder (1945) Jenny (Veda Ann Borg) is an actress who has the misfortune of being struck down by a car while hitchhiking her way across the country. Surviving her ordeal, Jenny is taken in by the driver, Max Ducone (Charles Arnt), to recuperate. But Jenny's nightmare isn't over. Someone has murdered Mr. Ducone's wife in cold blood. 8/7/1954

TV Television Marjorie Reynolds

17. The 13th Guest (a.k.a. Mystery of the 13th Guest) (1943) While lighting a cigarette from a candle wick, Vampira tells us why she doesn't rig the attic with electricity: "Everybody knows electricity is for chairs." 8/14/1954

18. Midnight Limited (1940) A mysterious figure known as The Phantom Robber has been pulling a series of robberies on a locomotive headed for Montreal. When Joan Marshall (Marjorie Reynolds) becomes the latest victim, she teams up with Detective Valentine Lennon (John King) to capture him. Unfortunately, The Phantom Robber soon resorts to murder. 8/21/1954

John Carradine Kane Richmond

19. Bluebeard (1944) Siblings Lucille (Jean Parker) and Francine (Teala Loring) cross paths with a mad killer dubbed "Bluebeard," who has all of Paris in a grip of terror. John Carradine and Nils Asther also star. 8/28/1954

20. Missing Lady (1946) Lamont Cranston -- secretly the vigilante known as The Shadow (Kane Richmond) -- investigates a murder and a stolen jade statue that is referred to as the "missing lady." The Shadow, himself, becomes the prime suspect when his sleuthing only leads to more people being killed. Featuring George Chandler and James Flavin. 9/4/1954

Sarah Padden TV Television

21. Murder by Invitation (1941) In order to get their hands on rich Aunt Cassandra Hildegarde Denham's (Sarah Padden) fortune, greedy relatives attempt to have the old woman declared insane. Despite this, Aunt "Cassie" invites them all over to her estate. That's when the murders begin. Also starring Wallace Ford and Gavin Gordon. 9/11/1954

22. Red Dragon (1945) "Vampira, the amazing glamour-ghoul... take[s] a bath during the show. Naturally it'[s] a cauldron of fire fanned by gasoline." -- Long Beach Press-Telegram9/18/1954

Jean Lodge J. Edward Bromberg

23. The Missing Heiress (a.k.a. Dr. Morelle: The Case of the Missing Heiress) (1949) Poor Cynthia Mason (Jean Lodge). She was do to marry a struggling young author and inherit millions, but mysteriously disappears. Her friend, Miss Frayle (Julia Lang), happens to be the secretary of the great detective Dr. Morelle (Valentine Dyall). Both Miss Frayle and Dr. Morelle head to the creepy dark mansion to solve the case. 9/25/1954

24. The Missing Corpse (1945) Newspaper publisher Henry Kruger (J. Edward Bromberg) leaves the city and heads to his country home to do some hunting. Unfortunately, an unscrupulous rival publisher Andy McDonald (Paul Guilfoyle) turns up dead in the trunk of Henry's car. As more people get involved in the situation, the elusive body keeps turning up missing. 10/2/1954

TV Television Dick Purcell

25. The Fatal Hour (1940) San Francisco Police Captain Bill Street (Grant Withers) calls in the famous sleuth James Lee Wong (Boris Karloff) to help solve murders in connection with a smuggling ring by the harbor. Also featuring Marjorie Reynolds and Charles Trowbridge. 10/9/1954

26. Phantom Killer (1942) Assistant D.A. Edward A. Clark (Dick Purcell) investigates several murders that all seem to lead back to a deaf-mute named John G. Harrison (John Hamilton). The crux of the dilemma is that Mr. Harrison is always seen by witnesses attending benefits at the time of the murders. 10/16/1954

Kane Richmond TV Television

27. The Shadow Returns (1946) Lamont Cranston (Kane Richmond), a.k.a The Shadow, gets a tip on a jewel smuggling racket, which, of course, leads to murder. Barbara Reed and Tom Dugan also star. 10/23/1954

28. King of the Zombies (1941) "Vampira, the dream ghoul [has] a special show for this Halloween with fun and games for her friends (?). Formaldehyde-and seek, bobbing for poison apples and other such games [are] played and refreshments [also] include suicider and Thirteen Up." -- Long Beach Independent10/30/1954

Boris Karloff TV Television

29. Doomed to Die (1940) When shipping magnate Cyrus B. Wentworth (Melvin Lang) is shot dead, the prime suspect turns out to be his daughter's fiance. But famous detective James Lee Wong (Boris Karloff) and meddling reporter Roberta Logan (Marjorie Reynolds) have their doubts as Mr. Wentworth had a lot of enemies. 11/6/1954

30. House of Mystery (1934) When Vampira has car trouble, Fletcher Jones tries to get her to trade in her vehicle for one of the sponsor's used models. Vampira refuses and wrecks her car on a fire hydrant. Grabbing her shredded umbrella, Vampira proceeds to hitchhike. 11/13/1954

Jack Warner TV Television

31. My Brother's Keeper (1948) Two escaped convicts (Jack Warner and George Cole), that happen to be handcuffed to one another, escape and go on the lam. As the two fugitives try to ditch the police and the reporters that are hot on their tail, one of them ends up murdering a hunter that stumbles upon them. 11/20/1954

32. Dear Murderer (1947) "Vampira [takes] her flying hearse to Decadence Manor for a Thanksgiving dinner of young Tom Vulture. Rest of the dinner menu includes Sparkling Arsenic, Sour Potatoes, dressing of head crumbs and tid-bits of toes, crank-berry sauce and dead lettuce salad." -- Long Beach Independent11/27/1954

Julian West Karl Ludwig Diehl

33. The Castle of Doom (a.k.a. Vampyr) (1932) When Allan Gray (Julian West) checks into an inn, he discovers he has also placed himself in grave danger as vampires terrorize the village of Courtempierre. Also starring Maurice Schutz and Sybille Schmitz. 12/4/1954

34. The Charge is Murder (a.k.a. Atto d'accusa; The Accusation) (1950) Famous attorney Massimo Ruska (Karl Ludwig Diehl) turns to murder when he discovers his wife Irene (Lea Padovani) has been having an affair with former lover Renato La Torre (Marcello Mastrioanni). 12/11/1954

TV Television Annette Bach

35. Return of the Ape Man (1944) "Vampira... goes Christmas chopping to fill her hate list." -- Long Beach Independent. 12/18/1954

36. Man with the Gray Glove (a.k.a. L'uomo dal guanto grigio) (1948) Anna Gaddi (Annette Bach) finds herself a prime suspect in a murder and the disappearance of a famous painting. Starring Antonio Centa and Lauro Gazzolo. 12/25/1954

Ann Savage Robert Armstrong

37. Apology for Murder (1945) Villainess Toni Kirkland (Ann Savage) manipulates reporter Kenny Blake (Hugh Beaumont) into falling in love with her and has him murder her much older husband Harvey Kirkland (Russell Hicks). 1/1/1955

38. Decoy (1946) A greedy Margot Shelby (Jean Gillie) comes up with a plan to fake the death of her gangster boyfriend, Frank Olins (Robert Armstrong), and break him out of prison. It seems Frank has in his possession a map to the secret location of $400,000. But jealousy and deceit lead to multiple murders. 1/8/1955

Helene Heigh Kay Aldridge

39. Murder Is My Business (1946) Private Detective Michael Shayne (Hugh Beaumont) investigates the murder of wealthy Eleanor Renslow Ramsey  (Helene Heigh), but an unscrupulous local law enforcement detective, Pete Rafferty (Ralph Dunn) attempts to frame him for the crime. Mr. Shayne's personal secretary, Phyllis Hamilton (Cheryl Walker), comes to his aid. 1/15/1955

40. Phantom of 42nd Street (1945) When a Broadway actor is murdered and suspicion falls on Claudia Moore (Kay Aldridge), critic Tony Woolrich (Dave O'Brien) teams up with Lt. Walsh (Jack Mulhall) to investigate the homicide and rescue the woman he loves from the Phantom Killer. 1/22/1955

TV Television TV Television

41. The Case of the Guardian Angel (a.k.a. The Adventures of P.C. 49: Investigating the Case of the Guardian Angel) (1949) "Vampira... receive[s] the first 'Black Skull of Death Award' from the Mystery Writers of America during her show... Along with the mounted death head [are] an assortment of weapons that have been featured in mystery stories written by the famous authors." -- Long Beach Independent. 1/29/1955

42. Lady Chaser (1946) "Vampira... visits the spider pound to reclaim her black-widow spider." -- Long Beach Independent. 2/5/1955

Robert Lowery Rosamund John

43. Killer at Large (1947) Newspaper reporters Paul Kimberly (Robert Lowery) and Anne Arnold (Anabel Shaw) investigate an embezzling ring. Also starring Charles Evans and Frank Ferguson. 2/12/1955

44. She Shall Have Murder (1950) Jane Hamish (Rosamund John) is an aspiring mystery writer who works as a law office clerk. However, her very life is in danger when she investigates the murder of a client. Also featuring Derrick De Marney and Mary Jerrold. 2/19/1955

Mary Beth Hughes Hugh Beaumont

45. The Lady Confesses (1945) Vicki McGuire (Mary Beth Hughes) is shocked to discover that her fiance's first wife, Norma Craig (Barbara Slater), is very much alive after having gone missing for seven years. That is only the beginning of this odd mystery as Norma is later murdered and Vicki finds herself caught in a web of lies and deceit. 2/26/1955

46. Larceny in Her Heart (1946) Two-fisted sleuth Michael Shayne (Hugh Beaumont) investigates the disappearance of Helen Stallings (Marie Hannon). Unfortunately for Shayne, this is a case of murder which literally lands on his doorstep. 3/5/1955

Douglas Fowley Tom Neal

47. The Glass Alibi (1946) A greedy reporter, Joe Eykner (Douglas Fowley), and his treacherous girlfriend Belle Martin (Anne Gwynne) plan to murder his rich wife Linda (Maris Wrixon). Paul Kelly and Selmer Jackson also star. 3/12/1955

48. Detour (1945) Al Roberts (Tom Neal) is a struggling pianist from New York City who hitchhikes his way to California to be with his ex-girlfriend Sue Harvey (Claudia Drake). When Al meets up with a pill-popper that croaks on him, he steals the man's car and identity, but soon becomes the puppet of a femme fatale named Vera (Ann Savage). 3/19/1955

Rosemary La Planche

49. Strangler of the Swamp (1946) Someone or something is killing off the male descendants of those who hung an innocent man in the swamps. Starring Rosemary La Planche and Robert Barrat 3/26/1955